Relationship

In Whatever Situation I Am

How should the Church regard singleness, and how is this position reconciled with one's faith? Offering wisdom and encouragement, Dr. Gordon Miller, Dean of the School of Honors at Southeastern University, draws from personal experience and explores questions surrounding marital status.... Read More...

Unity of the Spirit until Unity of the Mind

One does not need to remain invisible or passive to be Christlike in a community, nor does one need vehemently defend all beliefs that are passionately held. There is a better way to handle disagreement in a community. In this week’s post, Austin Spiller,graduate student at Southeastern University’s Divinity School, draws a relevant comparison between our firm understandings of taboo subjects and how we as believers communicate them with those we love. ... Read More...

An Advocate for Pastoral Accountability

While the church preaches grace and forgiveness, the right systems are often not instated to ensure that leaders are held accountable for personal and communal actions. Stemming from our last post, in which Dr. McNaughton provided solutions to help leaders confront inward struggle, this week's article exhibits a personal story from a pastor's daughter who dealt with contributing to false perfection. ... Read More...

A Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Eugene Peterson

Yesterday, Eugene Peterson walked across the threshold of heaven’s gates. Many hearts are sorrowful and, at the same time, in awe at a life well lived. Eighty-five years, over 30 books authored, a meaningful vocation, a wonderful family and millions of lives were impacted through Peterson's words on paper. Join in the discussion this week as we commemorate Peterson's pivotal and faithful voice to numerous pastors, theologians, and leaders on the forefront of today's Pentecostal movement. ... Read More...

Should the Church Merge with Culture?

When we think of the church balancing with culture, our mental image might imitate what some deem "celebrity pastors" who promote wearing trendy name brands, flashing colorful lights, and focusing more time on their personal online presence. How can the church engage with modern America without converting entirely to its consumeristic tendencies? This week's discussion examines this pressing issue in relation to Jesus' core proclamations as well as suggests how the Body of Christ can respond. ... Read More...

The Millennial Need for Mentorship

Guidance, knowledge, and wisdom as ongoing processes are critical elements within the dynamics of mentoring and discipling. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus models a deeply personal style of leadership by investing into the lives of his disciples through empowerment and wise counsel. Similarly, how is the Church today to follow and continue this practice of mentoring and discipleship?... Read More...

Connecting Families

Families are close to God’s heart. Scripture reveals that from the very beginning God brought individuals together through family relationships. These relationships have great potential for demonstrating the love of God to the world, specifically when families join together in a church community. The necessity of these relationships makes it critical for the church to be intentional about helping families connect. How can our churches help families become better connected?... Read More...

Cultivating Real Community

With the connectedness of the online world, we can use social media as a platform for community, not as our only source, but as a support mechanism to be a catalyst for new friendships and connections. One can not negate the importance of social media but still must acknowledge the fact that it is not a mere one-for-one substitute for face-to-face community. How do you find the balance between your community online and your community in day-to-day life?... Read More...

Religious Media and the Christian

Media, as of late, has seemed to embrace religious, and sometimes even Christian elements within TV, movies and music. There has been a “resurgence” so to speak of media caring about religious subplots and overtones. However, is it really that media has really embraced religious expression, or is it doing what it has always done, intersect entertainment with life?... Read More...

Being Doubly Reconciled

Are we close enough with others to hear their cries for reconciliation with God and other people? Do we do the work of listening and allowing them to share about themselves more than we make assumptions about who they are for our convenient categories of description? Do we know what kind of reconciliation the Lord desires in our relationships? Double reconciliation – to God and others – begets our response as we act as ambassadors for Christ, compelling the world to be reconciled to God.... Read More...